Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USEUBRUSSELS587
2009-04-22 05:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
UPDATE ON EU COUNTER-PIRACY DEVELOPMENTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0587 1120512 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220512Z APR 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 000587
SIPDIS
NOFORN
PASS TO NAVCENT POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL EWWT XW XF EUN
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EU COUNTER-PIRACY DEVELOPMENTS
REF: A. USEU BRUSSELS 568
B. USEU BRUSSELS 527
C. USEU BRUSSELS 133
D. 08 USEU BRUSSELS 1565
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Christopher Murray for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 000587
SIPDIS
NOFORN
PASS TO NAVCENT POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL EWWT XW XF EUN
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EU COUNTER-PIRACY DEVELOPMENTS
REF: A. USEU BRUSSELS 568
B. USEU BRUSSELS 527
C. USEU BRUSSELS 133
D. 08 USEU BRUSSELS 1565
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Christopher Murray for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
1. (C//NF) Diplomatic and military interlocutors from the
UK Permanent Representation to the EU told PolOff on April 21
that if the U.S. wants NATO to take the lead for
counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, we will
have to do the "heavy lifting." Our UK contacts also
confirmed that the UK Defense Secretary assured EU
counterparts at the March EU Defense Ministerial in Prague
that the UK will lead an EU counter-piracy operation from its
Northwood headquarters until December 2010 if EU Member
States authorize a continued operation. They also provided
confirmation that there is an emerging agreement among Member
States to extend the EU operation (REFS A AND B),which will
almost certainly keep the UK engaged in an EU context until
the end of 2010.
2. (C//NF) Our European allies appear to favor an EU lead
on counter-piracy efforts for several reasons. First, given
the existing political will to be engaged as the EU, our UK
contacts suggest that several EU Member States will be
reluctant to relinquish the EU's leading role in combating
piracy. Second, the EU concluded an agreement with Kenya on
March 6, which appears to give Member States some legal
authority to transfer detained pirates to the Government of
Kenya for prosecution. Finally, force generation for
Operation ATALANTA continues to be successful, and the
mission could grow to as many as ten ships supported by
maritime patrol aircraft by mid-May. Even non-EU allies see
the value of the EU operation and are contributing to it.
Norway will contribute a frigate beginning this summer. A
contact in the Swiss mission told PolOff that Switzerland
wants to contribute if it can gain parliamentary approval for
the deployment of two special forces teams, a medical team,
and military officers and jurists for the EU headquarters.
3. (C) In addition, the EU is already moving to supplement
its naval operation with regional capacity building. On
April 17, the European Commission announced the adoption of
the Indicative Program for its 2009-2011 Instrument for
Stability, which "includes a significant component to tackle
the threat of piracy to critical maritime routes, in
particular in the Gulf of Aden, by enhancing the capacity of
coastal states to patrol their own territorial waters and
exchange information." (REFS C AND D)
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
NOFORN
PASS TO NAVCENT POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL EWWT XW XF EUN
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EU COUNTER-PIRACY DEVELOPMENTS
REF: A. USEU BRUSSELS 568
B. USEU BRUSSELS 527
C. USEU BRUSSELS 133
D. 08 USEU BRUSSELS 1565
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Christopher Murray for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
1. (C//NF) Diplomatic and military interlocutors from the
UK Permanent Representation to the EU told PolOff on April 21
that if the U.S. wants NATO to take the lead for
counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, we will
have to do the "heavy lifting." Our UK contacts also
confirmed that the UK Defense Secretary assured EU
counterparts at the March EU Defense Ministerial in Prague
that the UK will lead an EU counter-piracy operation from its
Northwood headquarters until December 2010 if EU Member
States authorize a continued operation. They also provided
confirmation that there is an emerging agreement among Member
States to extend the EU operation (REFS A AND B),which will
almost certainly keep the UK engaged in an EU context until
the end of 2010.
2. (C//NF) Our European allies appear to favor an EU lead
on counter-piracy efforts for several reasons. First, given
the existing political will to be engaged as the EU, our UK
contacts suggest that several EU Member States will be
reluctant to relinquish the EU's leading role in combating
piracy. Second, the EU concluded an agreement with Kenya on
March 6, which appears to give Member States some legal
authority to transfer detained pirates to the Government of
Kenya for prosecution. Finally, force generation for
Operation ATALANTA continues to be successful, and the
mission could grow to as many as ten ships supported by
maritime patrol aircraft by mid-May. Even non-EU allies see
the value of the EU operation and are contributing to it.
Norway will contribute a frigate beginning this summer. A
contact in the Swiss mission told PolOff that Switzerland
wants to contribute if it can gain parliamentary approval for
the deployment of two special forces teams, a medical team,
and military officers and jurists for the EU headquarters.
3. (C) In addition, the EU is already moving to supplement
its naval operation with regional capacity building. On
April 17, the European Commission announced the adoption of
the Indicative Program for its 2009-2011 Instrument for
Stability, which "includes a significant component to tackle
the threat of piracy to critical maritime routes, in
particular in the Gulf of Aden, by enhancing the capacity of
coastal states to patrol their own territorial waters and
exchange information." (REFS C AND D)
MURRAY
.